Laundry Dryer

ABSTRACT

Laundry dryer ( 1 ) comprising an outer casing ( 2 ) having a front wall ( 2   a ) provided with a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening, and an air-filtering cartridge ( 15 ) which is fitted in removable manner into an air-vent ( 10 ) which is passed through by a laundry drying airflow (f), said air-filtering cartridge ( 15 ) comprising a first substantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel ( 20, 120 ) which is dimensioned for being inserted/plugged into said air-vent ( 10 ) and is structured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow (f); the air-filtering cartridge ( 15 ) furthermore comprising: a second, completely separated, substantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel ( 30, 130 ) which is fitted/recessed into said first air-filtering shell or vessel ( 20, 120 ) so as to be crossed by substantially the same airflow (f) that crosses the first air-filtering shell or vessel ( 20, 120 ), and which is structured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow (f); and an extraction-aid member ( 26, 138 ) which is fixed/associated to one of the two completely-separated, air-filtering shells or vessels ( 20, 30; 120, 130 ), and is structured so as to allow the manual extraction of both air-filtering shells or vessels ( 20, 30; 120, 130 ) at a time from the air-vent ( 10 ).

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer.

More in particular, the present invention relates to a rotary-drumhousehold laundry dryer to which the following description refers purelyby way of example without implying any loss of generality.

As it is known, rotary-drum household laundry dryers currently on themarket generally comprise: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped, outerboxlike casing structured for resting on the floor; a substantiallycylindrical rotatable drum which is structured for housing the laundryto be dried and which is housed in axially rotating manner inside thecasing so to rotate about a substantially horizontally-orientedlongitudinal reference axis, directly facing a laundry loading/unloadingopening formed in the front wall of the casing; a porthole door hingedto the front wall of the casing to rotate to and from a closing positionin which the door rests completely against the front wall of the casingto close the laundry loading/unloading opening and airtight seal therotatable drum; an electrically-powered motor assembly which is housedinside the casing and is structured for driving into rotation therotatable drum about its longitudinal reference axis; a closed-circuit,hot-air generator which is housed inside the casing and is structured tocirculate inside the rotatable drum a stream of hot air which has a verylow moisture content and flows through the rotatable drum and over thelaundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry; and finally anelectronic central control unit which controls both the motor assemblyand the hot-air generator to perform, on command, one of theuser-selectable drying cycles stored in the same central control unit.

In most of the rotary-drum household laundry dryers currently on themarket, the rotatable drum furthermore consists in a substantiallycylindrical, rigid tubular body which is generally made of metalmaterial and extends substantially horizontally inside the boxlikecasing, locally aligned to the laundry loading/unloading opening. Thisrigid tubular body may be furthermore structured for resting on a numberof idle supporting rollers which are arranged at the two axial ends ofthe tubular body locally parallel to the drum longitudinal referenceaxis, and are fixed to the boxlike casing in free revolving manner so asto allow the tubular body to freely rotate about itshorizontally-oriented longitudinal reference axis. The circular frontrim of the tubular body surrounds the laundry loading/unloading openingand is coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotating manner tothe front wall of the boxlike casing; whereas the circular rear rim ofthe tubular body abuts against the rear wall of the boxlike casing andis coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotating mannerdirectly to said rear wall.

The closed-circuit, hot-air generator in turn comprises: an airrecirculating conduit which extends on the bottom of the boxlike casingand has a first end directly connected to a first air-vent realized inthe rear wall of the boxlike casing, within the perimeter of the rearrim of the tubular body, and a second end directly connected to a secondair-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundryloading/unloading opening on the front wall of the appliance casing; andan electrically-powered centrifugal fan which is located along the airrecirculating conduit and is structured to produce an airflow whichflows in closed loop through the air recirculating conduit and therotatable drum.

The stream of hot air produced by the hot-air generator generally entersinto the tubular body via the first air-vent realized in the rear wallof the boxlike casing, flows inside the tubular body for the entirelength of the latter, and finally comes out of the tubular body via thesecond air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits the laundryloading/unloading opening on the front wall of the casing.

The closed-circuit, hot-air generator furthermore comprises: anair-cooling device which is located along the air recirculating conduit,and is structured to cool the moist air arriving from the rotatabledrum, so as to cause the condensation of the surplus moisture inside theairflow; an air-heating device which is located along the airrecirculating conduit, downstream of the air-cooling device and which isstructured for heating the dehumidified airflow arriving from theair-cooling device and directed back to the rotatable drum, so that theairflow directed back into the rotatable drum is heated to a temperaturepreferably, though not necessarily, higher than or equal to that of themoist air flowing out of the same rotatable drum.

The closed-circuit, hot-air generator is finally provided with anair-filtering member which is arranged along the air recirculatingconduit, upstream of the air-cooling device, to prevent the fluff and/orlint particles from reaching and clogging up the air-cooling device, theair-heating device and the centrifugal fan.

In some of the rotary-drum household laundry dryers currently on themarket, the air-filtering member consists in a substantiallywedge-shaped air-filtering cartridge which is fitted in removable mannerinto the air-vent realized on the annular frame that delimits thelaundry loading/unloading opening on the front wall of the casing, so asto cover/close the whole air-vent. When the porthole door is in thewide-opened position, the user is allowed to manually extract thewedge-shaped filtering cartridge from the air-vent realized on theannular frame that delimits the laundry loading/unloading opening forperiodical cleaning.

GB2116068 discloses a wedge-shaped air-filtering cartridge for laundrydriers which is dimensioned for being inserted/plugged into the air-ventrealized on the annular frame that delimits the laundryloading/unloading opening, so as to cover/close the whole air-vent, andwhich is structured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles insuspension into the airflow. This air-filtering cartridge basicallyconsists in a substantially bag- or pocket-shaped rigid air-filteringshell which has a substantially V-shaped cross section and isdimensioned for being inserted/plugged into the air-vent realized on theannular frame that delimits the laundry loading/unloading opening, so asto cover/close the whole air-vent.

The bag-shaped rigid air-filtering shell is divided into twocomplementary valve-like pieces which are laterally hinged to oneanother at the bottom of the bag- or pocket-shaped air-filtering shell,so that the air-filtering shell is openable in a book-like manner; andeach valve-like piece is provided with a substantially flat, largepermeable-to-air sidewall which is structured to restrain the fluffand/or lint particles within the bag-shaped rigid shell.

To improve air-filtering capabilities, in DE8437357U1 each valve-likepiece of the air-filtering shell is furthermore provided with anadditional permeable-to-air panel or septum which is similarlystructured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles, and is laterallyand permanently hinged to the upper edge of the valve-like piece thatdelimits the upper mouth of the bag- or pocket-shaped air-filteringshell, so as to be foldable towards the inside of the bag- orpocket-shaped air-filtering shell for covering the wholepermeable-to-air sidewall of the same valve-like piece.

The DE8437357U1 air-filtering cartridge therefore implements a two-stagefiltration of the airflow circulating into the laundry dryer.

Unluckily, the DE8437357U1 air-filtering cartridge is relativelycomplicated to open without randomly scattering the fluff and/or lintparticles all around the air-filtering cartridge, and is thereforeparticularly unpleasant to the user. The particular structure of theair-filtering cartridge, in fact, forces the fluff and/or lint particlesto accumulate on respective faces of the valve-like pieces and of thecorresponding additional permeable-to-air panels, which respectivelyturn upwards and downwards, i.e. opposite to one another, when theair-filtering cartridge is wide opened in book-like manner on ahorizontal plane.

Aim of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer having anair-filtering cartridge which is easier to extract and clean.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present inventionthere is provided a laundry dryer having an air-filtering cartridge asclaimed in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one ofthe dependent Claims.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of arotary-drum household laundry dryer realized in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the FIG. 1 laundry dryer with parts removedfor clarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the air-filteringmember of the FIG. 1 laundry dryer;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the FIG. 3 air-filtering member;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two partly-exploded perspective views of the FIG. 3air-filtering member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the air-filteringmember of the FIG. 1 laundry dryer;

FIG. 8 is a section view of the FIG. 7 air-filtering member;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show two partly-exploded perspective views of the FIG. 7air-filtering member.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference number 1 indicates as a wholea rotary-drum household laundry dryer which comprises: a preferably,though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped, outer boxlike casing 2which is structured for resting on the floor and is provided withreciprocally-faced, substantially vertically-oriented, front and rearwalls 2 a and 2 b; a substantially cylindrical rotatable drum 3 which isstructured for housing the laundry to be dried, and is fixed in axiallyrotating manner inside the boxlike casing 2, directly facing a laundryloading/unloading pass-through opening formed on the front wall 2 a ofcasing 2; and a porthole door 4 hinged to the front wall 2 a of casing 2so to be able to rotate about a preferably, though not necessarily,vertically-oriented reference axis, to and from a closing position inwhich the porthole door 4 rests completely against the front wall 2 a toclose the laundry loading/unloading opening and substantially airtightseal the rotatable drum 3.

Inside the boxlike casing 2, the laundry dryer 1 additionally comprisesan electrically-powered motor assembly 5 which is structured for drivinginto rotation the rotatable drum 3 about the drum longitudinal referenceaxis; a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 6 which is structured tocirculate through the rotatable drum 3 a stream of hot air having a lowmoisture level, and which flows over and rapidly dries the laundrylocated inside the drum 3; an electronic central control unit (not shownin the drawing) controls the motor assembly 5, the hot-air generator 6to perform, on command, one of the user-selectable drying cyclespreferably, though not necessarily, stored in the same central controlunit, a further control unit 7 may be provided for controlling theoperation of compressor 19.

With reference to FIG. 2, in particular, the rotatable drum 3 preferablyconsists in a substantially cylindrical-shaped, rigid tubular body 3which is preferably made of metal material and extends inside theboxlike casing 2 coaxial to a preferably substantiallyhorizontally-oriented, longitudinal reference axis L while remaininglocally substantially aligned to the laundry loading/unloading openingon the front wall 2 a of the boxlike casing 2. The substantiallycylindrical-shaped, rigid tubular body 3 is furthermore preferablystructured for resting on a number of idle supporting rollers 8 whichare arranged approximately at the two axial ends of the tubular body 3with their rotation axis locally substantially parallel to thelongitudinal reference axis L of tubular body 3, and are fixed to theboxlike casing 2 in free revolving manner so as to allow the tubularbody 3 to freely rotate about its longitudinal reference axis L insidethe boxlike casing 2. Even if it is here described a drum supported byrotatable rollers, it should be understood that the present inventioncovers also an arrangement wherein the drum is supported by a shaftmechanically connected to the drum rear wall, i.e. the wall opposite tothe drum front wall which is provided with an opening forloading/unloading laundry into/from the drum. Said shaft is alsoprovided to rotate the drum.

The circular front rim 3 f of tubular body 3 surrounds the laundryloading/unloading opening realized on the front wall 2 a of boxlikecasing 2 and is coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotatingmanner to the same front wall 2 a, preferably with the interposition ofa first circular sealing gasket. The circular rear rim 3 r of tubularbody 3 instead abuts against the rear wall 2 b of boxlike casing 2 andis coupled in substantially airtight and axially rotating mannerdirectly to the same rear wall 2 b with the interposition of a secondcircular sealing gasket. Front and rear circular sealing gaskets aretherefore substantially coaxial to the longitudinal reference axis L oftubular body 3.

The stream of hot air produced by the hot-air generator 6 preferablyenters into tubular body 3 through the rear mouth of tubular body 3,i.e. the mouth of tubular body 3 delimited by the rear rim 3 r, flowsinside tubular body 3 for the entire length of the latter, and finallycomes out of tubular body 3 through the front mouth of tubular body 3,i.e. the mouth of tubular body 3 delimited by the front rim 3 f.

In other words, the stream of hot air produced by hot-air generator 6preferably enters into tubular body 3 via a first air-vent 9 which isincorporated in the rear wall 2 b of casing 2 locally aligned/faced tothe rear mouth of tubular body 3, i.e. within the perimeter of the rearrim 3 r of tubular body 3, and comes out of tubular body 3 via a secondpreferably substantially slot-shaped, air-vent 10 which is preferablyincorporated in the annular frame that, on front wall 2 a, delimits thelaundry loading/unloading opening of boxlike casing 2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hot-air generator 6 in turn isstructured for gradually drawing air from rotatable drum 3; cooling downthe air arriving from rotatable drum 3 so to extract and retain thesurplus moisture in the air drawn from rotatable drum 3; heating thedehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, normally higher thanthe temperature of the air from rotatable drum 3; and finally feedingthe heated, dehumidified air back into the rotatable drum 3, where itflows over, to rapidly dry, the laundry inside the drum.

In other words, hot-air generator 6 provides for continuallydehumidifying and heating the air circulating inside rotatable drum 3 torapidly dry the laundry inside the drum, and basically comprises:

-   -   an air recirculating conduit 11 which has a first end in direct        communication with, i.e. fluidly connected to, the air-vent 9        located in the rear wall 2 b of casing 2, and a second end in        direct communication with, i.e. fluidly connected to, the        air-vent 10 preferably located in the annular frame that        delimits the laundry loading/unloading opening on front wall 2        a;    -   an electrically-powered centrifugal fan 12 (part of its volute        is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) or other type of air circulating        pump, which is located along recirculating conduit 11 to        produce, inside recirculating conduit 11, an airflow f which        flows through the rotatable drum 3 and over the laundry inside        drum 3;    -   an air-cooling device 13 which is located along the air        recirculating conduit 11 preferably, though not necessarily,        upstream of the centrifugal fan 12, and is structured to cool        the moist air arriving from rotatable drum 3, so as to cause the        quick condensation of the surplus moisture inside the airflow f;        and    -   an air-heating device 14 which is located along the air        recirculating conduit 11, downstream of the air-cooling device        13 and preferably also upstream of the centrifugal fan 12, and        which is structured for heating the dehumidified airflow f        arriving from the air-cooling device 13 and directed back to        rotatable drum 3, so that the airflow f directed back into the        rotatable drum 3 is heated to a temperature preferably, though        not necessarily, higher than or equal to that of the moist air        flowing out of the same rotatable drum 3.

With reference to FIG. 2, the hot-air generator 6 lastly comprises apreferably substantially wedge-shaped, air-filtering cartridge 15 whichis fitted in removable manner into the air-vent 10 preferably realizedon the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2 a, the laundryloading/unloading opening of casing 2. This air-filtering cartridge 15is dimensioned so as to cover/close the whole air-vent 10, i.e. theentrance of the air recirculating conduit 11, and it is structured torestrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflowf so to prevent the same fluff and/or lint particles from reaching andclogging up the air-cooling device 13, the air-heating device 14 and thecentrifugal fan 12 located along the air recirculating conduit 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the example shown, in particular,the outer boxlike casing 2 preferably, though not necessarily, comprisesa substantially parallelepiped-shaped lower supporting basement 16 whichis structured for resting on the floor; and a substantiallyparallelepiped-shaped upper boxlike cabinet 17 which is rigidly fixed tothe top of the lower supporting basement 16 and it is structured so asto house the rotatable drum 3.

In other words, the rotatable drum 3 extends inside the upper boxlikecabinet 17, immediately above the supporting basement 16; the laundryloading/unloading opening of boxlike casing 2 is realized in the frontwall of the upper boxlike cabinet 17; and the porthole door 4 is hingedto the front wall of the same upper boxlike cabinet 17.

The lower supporting basement 16, in turn, is preferably, though notnecessarily, structured for internally housing a central/intermediatesection of the air recirculating conduit 11, and the air-cooling device13, the air-heating device 14 and the centrifugal fan 12 of hot-airgenerator 6 are preferably located inside said central/intermediatesection of the air recirculating conduit 11. Thus the lower supportingbasement 16 is preferably, though not necessarily, structured forinternally housing part of the hot-air generator 6.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the lower supporting basement 16 ismoreover structured to directly support the drum-supporting rollers 8.In other words, the idle rollers 8 that support in free revolving mannerthe tubular body 3 are preferably fixed in axially rotating mannerdirectly to the top of the lower supporting basement 16.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hot-air generator 6 furthermorepreferably, though not necessarily, consists in a heat-pump type,closed-circuit, hot-air generator 6, and is therefore provided with aheat-pump circuit 18 which comprises a first and a secondair/refrigerant heat exchanger, both located inside the airrecirculating conduit 11 preferably upstream of the centrifugal fan 12.

The first air/refrigerant heat exchanger, traditionally referred to asthe “evaporator” of the heat-pump circuit 18, is located inside the airrecirculating conduit 11, and it is structured to remove/absorb heatfrom the airflow f arriving from rotatable drum 3, thus forming theair-cooling device 13 of the hot-air generator 6. The secondair/refrigerant heat exchanger, traditionally referred to as the“condenser” of the heat-pump circuit 18, is instead located inside theair recirculating conduit 11 downstream of the first air/refrigerantheat exchanger 13, and it is structured to release heat to the airflow farriving from the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger 13, thus formingthe air-heating device 14 of the hot-air generator 6.

In the example shown, in particular, the first and secondair/refrigerant heat exchangers 13 and 14 are recessed one after theother inside the central/intermediate section of air recirculatingconduit 11 which is integrated into the lower supporting basement 16 ofboxlike casing 2.

In addition to the above, the heat-pump circuit 18 furthermorecomprises: an electrically-powered refrigerant compressing device 19which is interposed between the refrigerant-outlet of air/refrigerantheat exchanger 13 and the refrigerant-inlet of air/refrigerant heatexchanger 14, and it is structured for compressing the gaseous-staterefrigerant directed towards heat exchanger 14 so that refrigerantpressure and temperature are much higher at the refrigerant-inlet ofheat exchanger 14 than at the refrigerant-outlet of heat exchanger 13;and an expansion valve or similar known passive/operated refrigerantexpansion device (for example a capillary tube, a thermostatic valve oran electrically-controlled expansion valve) which is interposed betweenthe refrigerant-outlet of the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 14 and therefrigerant-inlet of the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 13, and it isstructured so as to cause a rapid expansion of the refrigerant directedtowards the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 13, so that refrigerantpressure and temperature are much higher at the refrigerant-outlet ofheat exchanger 14 than at the refrigerant-inlet of air/refrigerant heatexchanger 13.

According to a different embodiment not shown, the hot air generator 6may comprise an electric heater as air-heating device 14 and an air-airtype heat exchanger as air-cooling device 13, where the airflow f iscooled by air taken from and exhausted to the environment surroundingthe laundry machine. An appropriate air pumping device is furtherarranged to pump ambient air through the air-air type heat exchanger.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the centrifugal fan 12 of hot-airgenerator 6, in turn, is preferably, though not necessarily, located onthe back of the supporting basement 16, i.e. on the rear wall 2 b of theboxlike casing 2, and it is structured so as to produce an airflow fthat flows from the central/intermediate section of the airrecirculating conduit 11 to the air-vent 9 located in rear wall 2 b ofcasing 2.

In the example shown the centrifugal fan 12 of the hot-air generator 6is preferably at least partly housed/recessed into the lower supportingbasement 16 of casing 2, i.e. into the rear wall 2 b of the boxlikecasing 2, roughly at the end of the central/intermediate section of theair recirculating conduit 11, and the outer volute or impeller housingof the centrifugal fan 12 is shaped/structured so as to directlycommunicate with, i.e. be fluidly connected to, both thecentral/intermediate section of the air recirculating conduit 11 and theair-vent 9 integrated in the rear wall 2 b of casing 2.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the air-filtering cartridge 15 in turncomprises:

-   -   a first substantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell        or vessel 20 which is dimensioned for being inserted/plugged in        manually extractable manner into the air-vent 10 which is        preferably realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front        wall 2 a, the laundry loading/unloading opening of casing 2, so        as to substantially fill up the whole clear section of the        air-vent 10, and which is both permeable to air and structured        to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into        the airflow f that enters into the air recirculating conduit 11        through the air-vent 10;    -   a second, completely separated, substantially bag- or        pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 30 which is        fitted/recessed into the first substantially bag- or        pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 20, so as to be        passed through by substantially the same airflow f that crosses        the first air-filtering shell or vessel 20, and which is        similarly both permeable to air and structured to restrain the        fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f        that enters into the air recirculating conduit 11; and    -   an extraction-aid member which is fixed/associated to one of the        two completely-separated, air-filtering shells or vessels 20 and        30, and is structured so as to allow the manual extraction of        both air-filtering shells or vessels 20 and 30 at a time from        the air-vent 10.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, in the example shown the upper rim ofthe air-filtering shell or vessel 20 is preferably bent outwards so asto form an outwards projecting peripheral flange 21 which encircles theupper mouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 20 and it isshaped/structured so as to rest in abutment on the border of the annularframe of front wall 2 a that delimits the air-vent 10. The upper mouthof the air-filtering shell or vessel 20 is furthermore preferablyshaped/structured so as to substantially mate the shape of the air-vent10 realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2 a, thelaundry loading/unloading opening of the boxlike casing 2.

Preferably the air-filtering shell or vessel 20 is furthermore providedwith two preferably substantially flat, reciprocally-faced,permeable-to-air sidewalls 22 which are structured to restrain the fluffand/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses theair-vent 10.

With reference to FIG. 4, in the example shown, the preferablysubstantially flat, reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-air sidewalls 22 ofthe air-filtering shell or vessel 20 are preferably substantiallyspecularly inclined to the center-plane M of the air-filtering shell orvessel 20, so that the air-filtering shell or vessel 20 has asubstantially V- or U-shaped cross-section.

In addition to the above, the substantially bag- or pocket-shaped,air-filtering shell or vessel 20 is moreover divided into twocomplementary valve-like pieces 23 which are selectively separable toone another, and each valve-like piece 23 preferably incorporates arespective permeable-to-air sidewall 22 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 20. Preferably the two valve-like pieces 23 are furthermorelaterally hinged to one another preferably approximately at the bottomof the air-filtering shell or vessel 20, i.e. opposite to the uppermouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 20, for reciprocal rotationabout a transversal reference axis A preferably substantially parallelto the permeable-to-air sidewalls 22 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 20, so that the whole air-filtering shell or vessel 20 isopenable in a book-like manner about reference axis A.

In the example shown, the two valve-like pieces 23 of the air-filteringshell or vessel 20 are preferably pivotally jointed to one another via apair of connecting hinges 24 which are aligned to the reference axis Aand are located approximately on the bottom of the air-filtering shellor vessel 20, i.e. opposite to the upper mouth of the air-filteringshell or vessel 20. Furthermore the articulation axis of the twoconnecting hinges 24, i.e. the rotation axis A of the two valve-likepieces 23, preferably substantially lies on the center-plane M of theair-filtering shell or vessel 20.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the air-filtering shell or vessel 20is preferably finally provided with a snap-on locking mechanism 25 whichis structured for selectively rigidly anchoring/fixing the twocomplementary valve-like pieces 23 of the air-filtering shell or vessel20 to one another when the same valve-like pieces 23 are reciprocallycoupled to form/compose the air-filtering shell or vessel 20, thuspreventing any unintended opening of the air-filtering shell or vessel20.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, in turn, the upper rim of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 30 is preferably bent outwards so as toform an outwards projecting peripheral flange 31 which encircles theupper mouth the air-filtering shell or vessel 30 and isshaped/structured so as to rest in abutment on the outwards projectingperipheral flange 21 of the air-filtering shell or vessel 20. The uppermouth of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 is furthermorepreferably shaped/structured so as to substantially mate the shape ofthe upper mouth of the first air-filtering shell or vessel 20.

Similarly to the first air-filtering shell or vessel 20, the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 30 is preferably furthermore provided withtwo preferably substantially flat, reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-airmain sidewalls 32 which are structured to restrain the fluff and/or lintparticles in suspension into the airflow f that crosses the air-vent 10,and each of which is moreover locally faced and superimposed to arespective permeable-to-air sidewall 22 of the first air-filtering shellor vessel 20.

With reference to FIG. 4, in the example shown, the preferablysubstantially flat, reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-air sidewalls 32 ofthe second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 are preferably substantiallyspecularly inclined to the center-plane of the second air-filteringshell or vessel 30, so that the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30has a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section similar to that of thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel 20. Preferably the center-plane ofthe second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 is furthermore locallysubstantially coincident to the center-plane M of the firstair-filtering shell or vessel 20.

In addition to the above, the substantially bag- or pocket-shaped,air-filtering shell or vessel 30 is moreover divided into twocomplementary valve-like pieces 33 which are selectively separable toone another, and each valve-like piece 33 preferably incorporates arespective permeable-to-air sidewall 32 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 30. Preferably the two valve-like pieces 33 are furthermorelaterally hinged to one another preferably approximately at the bottomof the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30, i.e. opposite to theupper mouth of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 20, forreciprocal rotation about a transversal reference axis B preferablysubstantially parallel to the permeable-to-air sidewalls 32 of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 30, and therefore locallysubstantially parallel to rotation axis A of the valve-like pieces 23 ofthe first air-filtering shell or vessel 20, so that the whole secondair-filtering shell or vessel 30 is openable in a book-like manner aboutreference axis B.

In the example shown, in particular, the two valve-like pieces 33 of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 30 are preferably pivotally jointedto one another via a pair of connecting hinges 34 which are aligned tothe reference axis B and are located approximately on the bottom of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 30, i.e. opposite to the uppermouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 30. Furthermore thearticulation axis of the two connecting hinges 34, i.e. the rotationaxis B of the two valve-like pieces 33, preferably substantially lies onthe center-plane of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the air-filtering cartridge 15preferably furthermore comprises a substantially platelike-shaped,permeable-to-air upper lid 35 which is rigidly associated/fixed to thetop of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 so as to close theupper mouth of the same air-filtering shell or vessel 30, and which isfurthermore preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to close/cover the wholeair-vent 10.

In the example shown, the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 is preferablyrigidly associated/fixed to the outwards projecting peripheral flange 31of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30.

Furthermore, similarly to the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30,the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 is preferably divided into twopreferably substantially platelike-shaped and permeable-to-air,complementary pieces 36 which are selectively separable to one another,and each of which is permanently rigidly fixed to a respectivevalve-like piece 33 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30, soas to allow the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 to open in abook-like manner.

Preferably, the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 furthermore comprises amanually-operated snap-on locking mechanism 37 which is structured forselectively rigidly anchoring/fixing the two complementary pieces 36 toone another when they are reciprocally coupled to form/compose thepermeable-to-air upper lid 35, thus preventing any unintended opening ofthe second air-filtering shell or vessel 30.

In the example shown, the snap-on locking mechanism 37 is preferablyincorporated into the two complementary pieces 36 of thepermeable-to-air upper lid 35. Furthermore each complementary piece 36of the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 is preferably realized in one piecewith a respective valve-like piece 33 of the second, substantially bag-or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 30.

As an alternative, the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 may be permanentlyrigidly associated/fixed to one of the two valve-like pieces 33 of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 20, and be structured forselectively coupling in a rigid and stable, though easily releasablemanner to the edge of the other valve-like piece 33 of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 30, i.e. the portion of the outwardsprojecting peripheral flange 31 integral to the second/other valve-likepiece 33 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30.

Preferably the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 is provided with amanually-graspable portion which is structured for allowing the user tomanually extract the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 from thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel 20. In the example shown, inparticular, a central portion of the permeable-to-air upper lid 35 ispreferably provided with a couple of large pass-through holes 35 adimensioned for allowing the user to insert his/her fingers into thepermeable-to-air upper lid 35.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the extraction-aid member of theair-filtering cartridge 15 in turn comprises at least one protrudingtailpiece 26 which is shaped/structured for being manually graspable bythe user, and which extends upwards from the upper rim of theair-filtering shell or vessel 20, i.e. from the peripheral flange 21 ofthe first air-filtering shell or vessel 20, so as to engage inpass-through manner a slot or indentation 31 a realized on theperipheral flange 31 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30and/or on the permeable-to-air upper lid 35, if present, and projectupwards above the second air-filtering shell or vessel 30 or above thepermeable-to-air upper lid 35, if present. When the air-filteringcartridge 15 is fitted into an air-vent 10 the extraction-aid memberremains visible and slightly protrudes from the air vent 10 such that auser can see it and grasp it when the air-filtering cartridge 15 has tobe removed, for example for cleaning operations.

In the example shown, the extraction-aid member of the air-filteringcartridge 15 consists in a preferably substantially flat, winglet orflap 26 that protrudes upwards from the upper edge of one of the twovalve-like pieces 23 of the first air-filtering shell or vessel 20locally parallel to rotation axis B, preferably approximately at thecentre of the same upper edge. The distal end of said winglet or flap 26is preferably shaped/structured for being manually graspable by theuser.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, according to an alternative embodiment,the air-filtering cartridge 15 comprises:

-   -   a first substantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell        or vessel 120 which is dimensioned for being inserted/plugged in        manually extractable manner into the air-vent 10 which is        preferably realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front        wall 2 a, the laundry loading/unloading opening of casing 2, so        as to substantially fill up the whole clear section of the        air-vent 10, and which is both permeable to air and structured        to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into        the airflow f that enters into the air recirculating conduit 11        through the air-vent 10;    -   a second, completely separated, substantially bag- or        pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 130 which is        fitted/recessed into the first substantially bag- or        pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 120, so as to be        passed through by substantially the same airflow f that crosses        the first air-filtering shell or vessel 120, and which is        similarly both permeable to air and structured to restrain the        fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f        that enters into the air recirculating conduit 11; and    -   an extraction-aid member which is fixed/associated to one of the        two completely-separated, air-filtering shells or vessels 120        and 130, and is structured so as to allow the manual extraction        of both air-filtering shells or vessels 120 and 130 at a time        from the air-vent 10.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, in the example shown the upper rim ofthe air-filtering shell or vessel 120 is preferably bent outwards so asto form an outwards projecting peripheral flange 121 which encircles theupper mouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120 and it isshaped/structured so as to rest in abutment on the border of the annularframe of front wall 2 a that delimits the air-vent 10. The upper mouthof the air-filtering shell or vessel 120 is furthermore preferablyshaped/structured so as to substantially mate the shape of the air-vent10 realized on the annular frame that delimits, on front wall 2 a, thelaundry loading/unloading opening of the boxlike casing 2.

Preferably the air-filtering shell or vessel 120 is furthermore providedwith two preferably substantially flat, reciprocally-faced,permeable-to-air sidewalls 122 which are structured to restrain thefluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f thatcrosses the air-vent 10.

With reference to FIG. 8, in the example shown, in particular, thesubstantially flat, reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-air sidewalls 122of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120 are preferably substantiallyspecularly inclined to the center-plane N of the air-filtering shell orvessel 120, so that the air-filtering shell or vessel 120 has asubstantially V- or U-shaped cross-section.

In addition to the above, the substantially bag- or pocket-shaped,air-filtering shell or vessel 120 is moreover divided into twocomplementary valve-like pieces 123 which are selectively separable toone another, and each valve-like piece 123 preferably incorporates arespective permeable-to-air sidewall 122 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 120. Preferably the two valve-like pieces 123 are furthermorelaterally hinged to one another preferably approximately at the bottomof the air-filtering shell or vessel 120, i.e. opposite to the uppermouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120, for reciprocal rotationabout a transversal reference axis C preferably substantially parallelto the permeable-to-air sidewalls 122 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 120, so that the whole air-filtering shell or vessel 120 isopenable in a book-like manner about reference axis C.

In the example shown, the two valve-like pieces 123 of the air-filteringshell or vessel 120 are preferably pivotally jointed to one another viaa pair of connecting hinges 124 which are aligned to the reference axisC and are located approximately on the bottom of the air-filtering shellor vessel 120, i.e. opposite to the upper mouth of the air-filteringshell or vessel 120. Furthermore the articulation axis of the twoconnecting hinges 124, i.e. the rotation axis C of the two valve-likepieces 123, preferably substantially lies on the center-plane N of theair-filtering shell or vessel 120.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the air-filtering shell or vessel120 is preferably finally provided with a snap-on locking mechanism 125which is structured for selectively rigidly anchoring/fixing the twocomplementary valve-like pieces 123 of the air-filtering shell or vessel120 to one another when the same valve-like pieces 123 are reciprocallycoupled to form/compose the air-filtering shell or vessel 120, thuspreventing any unintended opening of the air-filtering shell or vessel120.

With reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, in turn, the upper rim of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130 is preferably bent outwards so as toform an outwards projecting peripheral flange 131 which encircles theupper mouth the air-filtering shell or vessel 130 and isshaped/structured so as to rest in abutment on the outwards projectingperipheral flange 121 of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120. Theupper mouth of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130 isfurthermore preferably shaped/structured so as to substantially mate theshape of the upper mouth of the first air-filtering shell or vessel 120.

Similarly to the first air-filtering shell or vessel 120, the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130 is preferably furthermore providedwith two preferably substantially flat, reciprocally-faced,permeable-to-air main sidewalls 132 which are structured to restrain thefluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow f thatcrosses the air-vent 10, and each of which is moreover locally faced andsuperimposed to a respective permeable-to-air sidewall 122 of the firstair-filtering shell or vessel 120.

With reference to FIG. 8, in the example shown, the substantially flat,reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-air sidewalls 132 of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130 are preferably substantiallyspecularly inclined to the center-plane of the second air-filteringshell or vessel 130, so that the second air-filtering shell or vessel130 has a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section similar to that ofthe first air-filtering shell or vessel 120. Preferably the center-planeof the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130 is furthermore locallysubstantially coincident to the center-plane N of the firstair-filtering shell or vessel 120.

In addition to the above, the substantially bag- or pocket-shaped,air-filtering shell or vessel 130 is moreover divided into twocomplementary valve-like pieces 133 which are selectively separable toone another, and each valve-like piece 133 preferably incorporates arespective permeable-to-air sidewall 132 of the air-filtering shell orvessel 130. Preferably the two valve-like pieces 133 are furthermorelaterally hinged to one another preferably approximately at the bottomof the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130, i.e. opposite to theupper mouth of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 120, forreciprocal rotation about a transversal reference axis D preferablysubstantially parallel to the permeable-to-air sidewalls 132 of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 130, and therefore locallysubstantially parallel to rotation axis C of the valve-like pieces 123of the first air-filtering shell or vessel 120, so that the whole secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130 is openable in a book-like mannerabout reference axis D.

In the example shown, the two valve-like pieces 133 of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130 are preferably pivotally jointed toone another via a pair of connecting hinges 134 which are aligned to thereference axis D and are located approximately on the bottom of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 130, i.e. opposite to the uppermouth of the air-filtering shell or vessel 130. Furthermore thearticulation axis of the two connecting hinges 134, i.e. the rotationaxis D of the two valve-like pieces 133, preferably substantially lieson the center-plane of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, the air-filtering cartridge 15preferably furthermore comprises a substantially platelike-shaped,permeable-to-air upper lid 135 which is rigidly associated/fixed to thetop of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130 so as to close theupper mouth of the same air-filtering shell or vessel 130, and which isfurthermore preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to close/cover the wholeair-vent 10.

In the example shown, the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 is preferablyrigidly associated/fixed to the outwards projecting peripheral flange131 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130.

Furthermore, similarly to the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130,the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 is preferably divided into twopreferably substantially platelike-shaped and permeable-to-air,complementary pieces 136 which are selectively separable to one another,and each of which is permanently rigidly fixed to a respectivevalve-like piece 133 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130, soas to allow the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130 to open in abook-like manner.

Preferably, the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 furthermore comprises amanually-operated snap-on locking mechanism 137 which is structured forselectively rigidly anchoring/fixing the two complementary pieces 136 toone another when they are reciprocally coupled to form/compose thepermeable-to-air upper lid 135, thus preventing any unintended openingof the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130.

In the example shown, the snap-on locking mechanism 137 is preferablyincorporated into the two complementary pieces 136 of thepermeable-to-air upper lid 135. Furthermore each complementary piece 136of the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 is preferably realized in onepiece with a respective valve-like piece 133 of the second,substantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel 130.

As an alternative, the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 may be permanentlyrigidly associated/fixed to one of the two valve-like pieces 133 of thesecond air-filtering shell or vessel 120, and be structured forselectively coupling in a rigid and stable, though easily releasablemanner to the edge of the other valve-like piece 133 of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130, i.e. the portion of the outwardsprojecting peripheral flange 131 integral to the second/other valve-likepiece 133 of the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130.

Preferably the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 is provided with amanually-graspable portion which is structured for allowing the user tomanually extract the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130 from thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel 120. In the example shown, inparticular, a central portion of the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 ispreferably provided with a couple of large pass-through holes 135 adimensioned for allowing the user to insert his/her fingers into thepermeable-to-air upper lid 135.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, the extraction-aid member of theair-filtering cartridge 15 comprises at least one manually-operatedcoupling device 138 which is structured to selectively attach/fix thetwo air-filtering shells or vessels 120 and 130 to one another in arigid and stable, though easily detachable manner.

The at least one manually-operated coupling device 138 is preferablyfixed/associated to one of the two air-filtering shells or vessels 120and 130 of the air-filtering cartridge 15, and it is structured toselectively hook and retain the remaining of the two air-filteringshells or vessels 120 and 130 so as to clamp/secure the twoair-filtering shells or vessels 120 and 130 to one another in a rigidand stable, though easily detachable manner. The manually-operatedcoupling device 138 is configured to be movable from a fasteningposition in which it clamps/secures the two air-filtering shells orvessels 120 and 130 to one another and a releasing position in which thecoupling device 138 releases one of the air-filtering shells or vessels120 and 130 from the other.

In the example shown, the manually-operated coupling device 138 isfixed/associated to the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 which, in turn,is rigidly fixed to the second air-filtering shell or vessel 130, and itis structure to selectively hook and retain the first air-filteringshell or vessel 120 so as to clamp/secure the two air-filtering shellsor vessels 120 and 130 to one another in a rigid and stable, thougheasily detachable manner.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, in the example shown themanually-operated coupling device 138 consists in a clipping arm 138which is hinged to the upper lid 135 of the second air-filtering shellor vessel 130 so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis locallysubstantially tangent to the outer surface of the permeable-to-air upperlid 135 and preferably also parallel to the rotation axis D of the twovalve-like pieces 133, between

-   -   a fastening position the clipping arm 138 lays down on the outer        surface of the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 with the distal        end clipped onto a portion of the upper rim of the air-filtering        shell or vessel 120, i.e. of the peripheral flange 121 of the        first air-filtering shell or vessel 120, so as to couple/connect        the two air-filtering shells or vessels 120 and 130 to one        another in a rigid and stable, though easily detachable manner;        and    -   unfastening releasing position in which the clipping arm 138        preferably stands in a locally upright position with respect to        the permeable-to-air upper lid 135 with the distal end detached        from the upper rim of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120,        i.e. from the peripheral flange 121 of the first air-filtering        shell or vessel 120, completely disconnecting the second        air-filtering shell or vessel 130 from the first air-filtering        shell or vessel 120.

In an alternative embodiment, the clipping arm 138 could be hinged tothe upper rim of the air-filtering shell or vessel 120, i.e. to theperipheral flange 121 of the first air-filtering shell or vessel 120,and selectively clip on either the upper rim of the second air-filteringshell or vessel 130, i.e. to the peripheral flange 131 of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel 130, or the permeable-to-air upper lid 135rigidly fixed/associated to the second air-filtering shell or vessel130.

General operation of the rotary-drum household laundry drier 1 isclearly inferable from the above description, with no furtherexplanation required.

In the first embodiment of the air-filtering cartridge 15, the user hasto grab with a hand the protruding tailpiece 26, i.e. the winglet orflap 26, and then pull it upwards to extract the two air-filteringshells or vessels 120 and 130 at a time from the air-vent 10.

In the second embodiment of the air-filtering cartridge 15, the user hasto leave the clipping arm 18 in the fastened position, grab with a handthe manually-graspable portion 135 a of the permeable-to-air upper lid135, and then pull it upwards to extract the two air-filtering shells orvessels 120 and 130 at a time from the air-vent 10.

The advantages connected to the particular structure of theair-filtering cartridge 15 are large in number.

First of all, extraction and cleaning of the air-filtering cartridge 15are much easier to do by the user.

Furthermore in both embodiments of the air-filtering cartridge 15, thefluff and/or lint particles tends to accumulate/settle on the innerfaces of the valve-like pieces 23, 33, 123, 133 of the first and secondair-filtering shell or vessels 20, 120 and 30, 130. Thus the fluffand/or lint particles remains inside/above both first and secondair-filtering shells or vessels 20, 120 and 30, 130 when the userdisassembles/opens the air-filtering cartridge 15 for periodicalcleaning, greatly simplifying such operation.

Clearly, changes may be made to the rotary-drum household laundry drier1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

For example, the air-cooling device 13 of hot-air generator 6 maycomprise an air/air heat exchanger which is located inside the airrecirculating conduit 11, preferably upstream of the centrifugal fan 12,and is structured for using the external fresh air to cool down theairflow f arriving from rotatable drum 3; whereas the air-heating device14 of hot-air generator 6 may consists in a resistor which is locatedinside the air recirculating conduit 11, downstream of the air/air heatexchanger and preferably also downstream of centrifugal fan 12.

1. Laundry dryer (1) comprising an outer casing (2) having a front wall(2 a) provided with a laundry loading/unloading pass-through opening,and an air-filtering cartridge (15) which is fitted in removable mannerinto an air-vent (10) which is passed through by a laundry dryingairflow (f), said air-filtering cartridge (15) comprising a firstsubstantially bag- or pocket-shaped, air-filtering shell or vessel (20,120) which is dimensioned for being inserted/plugged into said air-vent(10) and is structured to restrain the fluff and/or lint particles insuspension into the airflow (f); the laundry dryer being characterizedin that the air-filtering cartridge (15) furthermore comprises: asecond, completely separated, substantially bag- or pocket-shaped,air-filtering shell or vessel (30, 130) which is fitted/recessed intosaid first air-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120) so as to be crossedby substantially the same airflow (f) that crosses the firstair-filtering shell or vessel (20 120), and which is structured torestrain the fluff and/or lint particles in suspension into the airflow(f); and an extraction-aid member (26, 138) which is fixed/associated toone of the two completely-separated, air-filtering shells or vessels(20, 30; 120, 130), and is structured so as to allow the manualextraction of both air-filtering shells or vessels (20, 30; 120, 130) ata time from the air-vent (10).
 2. Laundry dryer according to claim 1,characterized in that the upper rim (31) of the second air-filteringshell or vessel (30) is shaped/structured so as to rest in abutment onthe upper rim (21) of the first air-filtering shell or vessel (20); andin that the extraction-aid member (26, 138) comprises at least oneprotruding tailpiece (26) which is shaped/structured for being manuallygraspable by a user, and which extends upwards from the upper rim (21)of the first air-filtering shell or vessel (20) so as to engage inpass-through manner a slot or indentation (31 a) realized on the upperrim (31) of the second air-filtering shell or vessel (30), and thenproject upwards above the second air-filtering shell or vessel (30). 3.Laundry dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that theextraction-aid member (26, 138) consists in a winglet or flap (26) thatprotrudes upwards from the upper edge (21) of the first air-filteringshell or vessel (20) and has its distal end shaped/structured for beingmanually graspable by the user.
 4. Laundry dryer according to claim 1,characterized in that the extraction-aid member (26, 138) comprises atleast one manually-operated coupling device (138) which is structured toselectively attach/fix the two air-filtering shells or vessels (120,130) to one another in a rigid and stable, though easily detachablemanner.
 5. Laundry dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that themanually-operated coupling device (138) is fixed/associated to one (130)of the two air-filtering shells or vessels (120) and (130), and it isstructured to selectively hook and retain the remaining of the twoair-filtering shells or vessels (120, 130) so as to clamp/secure the twoair-filtering shells or vessels (120, 130) to one another in a rigid andstable, though easily detachable manner.
 6. Laundry dryer according toany one of the foregoing claims, characterized in air-filteringcartridge (15) furthermore comprises a permeable-to-air upper lid (35,135) which is rigidly associated/fixed to the top of the secondair-filtering shell or vessel (30, 130) so as to close the upper mouthof the second air-filtering shell or vessel (30, 130).
 7. Laundry dryeraccording to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the manually-operatedcoupling device (138) is stably fixed/associated to the permeable-to-airupper lid (135) and is structured to selectively hook and retain thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel (120) so as to clamp/secure the twoair-filtering shells or vessels (120, 130) to one another in a rigid andstable, though easily detachable manner.
 8. Laundry dryer according toclaim 7, characterized in that the manually-operated coupling device(138) consists in a clipping arm (138) which is hinged to thepermeable-to-air upper lid (135) of the second air-filtering shell orvessel (130) so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis locallysubstantially tangent to the outer surface of the permeable-to-air upperlid (135), to and from a fastening position the clipping arm (138) laysdown on the outer surface of the permeable-to-air upper lid (135) withthe distal end clipped onto a portion of the upper rim (121) of thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel (120), so as to couple/connect thetwo air-filtering shells or vessels (120, 130) to one another in a rigidand stable, though easily detachable manner.
 9. Laundry dryer accordingto any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each of saidfirst and the second air-filtering shells or vessels (20, 120; 30, 130)is provided with two reciprocally-faced, permeable-to-air sidewalls (22,122; 32, 132) which are structured to restrain the fluff and/or lintparticles in suspension into the airflow (f) that crosses the air-vent(10).
 10. Laundry dryer according to any one of the foregoing claims,characterized in that each of said first and the second air-filteringshells or vessels (20, 120; 30, 130) is divided into two valve-likepieces (23, 123; 33, 133) which are selectively separable to oneanother, and which are laterally hinged to one another so that the firstand the second air-filtering shells or vessels (20, 120; 30, 130) areopenable in a book-like manner.
 11. Laundry dryer according to claims 9and 10, characterized in that each valve-like piece (23, 123; 33, 133)of the first and second air-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120; 30, 130)incorporates a respective permeable-to-air sidewall (22, 122; 32, 132).12. Laundry dryer according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that thefirst air-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120) is provided with a snap-onlocking mechanism (25, 125) which is structured for selectively rigidlyanchoring/fixing the two valve-like pieces (23, 123) of the firstair-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120) to one another when the samevalve-like pieces (23, 123) are reciprocally coupled to form/compose theair-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120).
 13. Laundry dryer according toclaim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that each permeable-to-air sidewall(32, 132) of the second air-filtering shell or vessel (30, 130) isarranged locally faced and superimposed to a respective permeable-to-airsidewall (22, 122) of the first air-filtering shell or vessel (20, 120).14. Laundry dryer according to claims 6 and any claims 10 to 12,characterized in that said permeable-to-air upper lid (35, 135) isdivided into two complementary pieces (36, 136) which are selectivelyseparable to one another, and each of which is permanently rigidly fixedto a respective valve-like piece (33, 133) of the second air-filteringshell or vessel (30, 130), so as to allow the second air-filtering shellor vessel (30, 130) to open in a book-like manner.
 15. Laundry dryeraccording to claim 14, characterized in that the permeable-to-air upperlid (35, 135) furthermore comprises a manually-operated snap-on lockingmechanism (37, 137) which is structured for selectively rigidlyanchoring the two complementary pieces (36, 136) of the permeable-to-airupper lid (35, 135) to one another when they are reciprocally coupled toform/compose the permeable-to-air upper lid (35, 135).